Comunidades mineras prehispánicas de pequeña escala y sus ventajas económicas y logísticas derivadas de su conectividad con el Qhapaq Ñan, desierto de Atacama, norte de Chile

Pre-hispanic small-scale mining communities in the Atacama Desert leveraged the Inca Qhapaq Ñan road system for economic and logistical advantages, despite Inca attempts to control their economy. The study reveals that miners relocated settlements along the road to optimize trade of lapidary goods like malachite beads and pigments, capitalizing on increased traffic and connectivity. This unintended benefit highlights a nuanced dynamic between local adaptation and Inca domination, demonstrating how imperial infrastructure was opportunistically repurposed by indigenous communities for their own productive gains.

Garrido, F. (2017). Comunidades mineras prehispánicas de pequeña escala y sus ventajas económicas y logísticas derivadas de su conectividad con el Qhapaq Ñan, desierto de Atacama, norte de Chile. Boletín de Antropología, 32(54), 48–74. https://doi.org/10.17533/udea.boan.v32n54a04